I would purchase more products if the labeling accurate and consistent with regards to the major allergens including SESAME (often an unlisted "proprietary" ingredient I have found). Thank you for your attention to this life threatening issue for a growing number of families.

was recently diagnosed with four food allergies. This life changing diagnosis has been difficult to adjust to and very eye-opening at the same time. I am allergic to the following: wheat, garlic, peanuts and sesame seeds. While some of these items are currently labeled on foods, others like garlic are not. This is a major problem in my every day life in trying to prepare meals for myself and my family.

My son has a tree nut and sesame allergy which has produced serious (throwing up / hives), but not life-threatening reactions.

PLEASE add sesame to the list of allergens that require labeling. I've been allergic to them for over 35 years, and they are often NOT listed even in the ingredients on food products that have visible sesame seeds. Because the oil is so prevalent it is a serious cross-contaminator in many common foods. How is it that a bread company can not list sesame as an ingredient when I turn the loaf over and see sesame seeds all over the bottom? Cross contamination! Getting
sesame seeds/sesame oil in a food is, for some of us, a matter of life and death. I kid you not. It's got to have stricter regulation.

My 7 year old battles food allergies -- to peanuts, tree nuts and sesame -- continuously. I say battle, as it is a major fight to make certain he stays safe. ...

Please list all ingredients, not just the top eight. My son has a sesame allergy, which is the ninth most common allergen. And when companies list "spices" or "added flavors", they need to clarify which. It's a matter of life and death.

You see my daughter is allergic to peanut, treenut, dairy, egg, sesame, peas, legumes and intolerant of some fresh fruits and banana. Her list of foods to avoid is very lengthy. We have always called companies before starting a new product, usually we get a clear answer. Most often, we do not add new food products for our daughter due to poor labeling. The smallest amount of one of her allergens could potentially take her life. However, all we have to do is avoid eating the allergen and she is fine. Life would be so much easier for her, if we could really depend on labels to determine product safety.

Here is a list of their combined food allergies....

(edited by kp)>

no imagine me trying to shop for my family, trying to read labels and
tryign to keep everyone safe.

Hidden ingredients should be disclosed.
For example, our son is allergic to mustard and sesame. We purchased Heinz Chili Sauce which lists as 2 of its ingredients: spice and natural flavorings. Called the phone number on the label (800-577-2823) and asked if sesame or mustard is in this product. Was informed that the recipe is "guarded" and that a doctor must write a letter on his/her letterhead asking if sesame or mustard is an ingredient before this information will be released!!!

Last night we decorated our Christmas tree and Luke, one of the five year old twins, said "Let's do a play." We don't know where he gets that kind of thing, but it's very Luke. So our family of four did a stumbling play, in which Luke cast himself as the innkeeper. At the end when the show appeared to be withering, Luke shoved his two little hands into the air and yelled "Merry Christmas Everybody". Who would have thought that the innkeeper would pull the Christmas story together at the end?

When Luke was just 18 months old, I gave him a quick first-ever tiny spoonful of hummus, thinking "this is healthy for him", then I ran out the door to the store. My wife was very soon left with a child whose throat and airways suddenly began to close off, and who was in extreme danger. She drove him as fast as possible to the nearest ER, where thank God he was rescued.

Luke is allergic to sesame. We thought we were careful, educated first time parents. We knew all about food allergies to nuts, etc., and avoided all potential allergens, or so we thought. We had never heard of a sesame allergy. But for the grace of God we would have lost Luke that day.

Sesame allergies are tough, especially for kids like Luke who have to avoid a few other allergens at the same time. Meatballs always seem to contain breadcrumbs. Breadcrumbs always seem to contain sesame seeds. Sesame oil usually is not very refined, and therefore has sesame protein in it. Sesame appears in many subtle places. A label that highllights its presence would be wonderful.

We read that there are many more kids with sesame allergies every day. We also now know that other countries appear to list sesame as one of the primary dangerous allergens that must be highlighted in food ingredient lists.

We also know that so far Luke's story has turned out OK. You must be having difficulty reading the stories from other families that have had tragic endings.

Luke brought to life the overlooked role of the innkeeper. Please do the same for the overlooked allergen, sesame.

The sesame allergy is new for our family and is proving to be more difficult. Companies shoudl be required to list sesame in bold like eggs, nuts, etc...

My husband has an anaphylactic reaction when he ingests sesame seeds. It is very hard to find out if products contain sesame seeds which makes buying processed food items almost impossible. Finding out if cosmetics, etc. contain sesame seeds are not even possible. Please require that items that contain sesame seeds be labeled like products that contain peanuts.

I am the parent of three children, two of which have anaphylactic food allergies. My seven year old son is allergic to peanuts, treenuts, and sesame seeds. MY four year old daughter is allergic to peanuts, treeenuts, and shellfish. I live each and everyday in fear of a mistaken 'safe food'. I live this fear so they do not have to- however, there needs to be something done to help all of us feeding, consuming and safe guarding foods. The labeling changes of 2006 were most helpful, however not stringent enough. I spend countless hours on the phone asking questions about safe practices, cross-contact, facility issues and the like. Sometimes, I am greeted with understanding and cooperation - others I am told that they cannot be responsible to answer my questions and feed my children at the own discretion. I have found that products were not safe - even though the extent of information on the label would lead you to believe it was. If labeling practices were uniform, mandatory, and comprehensive, lives could be saved and tragedy prevented.

My daughter is allergic to peanut, tree nuts and seasame seeds. Please add seasame seeds to the list of the top allergens that need to be disclosed on labels.

I deal with Peanut, Tree Nut and Sesame allergies and reading labels is very time consuming and difficult. ...

Sesame does not have to be labled for yet it is the top 9th allergen out their-it is very important to label for as it is very dangerous.

I was thrilled by the FALCPA labeling changes that occurred a few years ago, because I no longer had to carry around lists of the many names for milk or eggs that show up on ingredients labels. I'm still a little frustrated that Lupine flour isn't labeled as Peanuts on food labels, but all in all, I think the FALCPA changes have helped us significantly. The only change I'd like to see in this area is to have every allergen (top 8, but sesame too) listed in BOLD, at the end of the ingredients list, so that they are visible to all who read labels.

I am deeply concerned that our FDA in the USA doe not feel it pertinent to insist on sesame seeds being labled as a may contain as are tree nuts, milk, soy etc allergies. In Canada and Europe this is already commonplace because kids with sesame seed allergy has risen so steadily with the others. You are potentially doing a huge disservice to our children. I as a mom find it disheartening that our FDA has not demanded this be in bold with all other common allergens. When is the USA going to outshine other countries or at least keep up with them. Are our children not as important?

As a peanut, nut, sesame and soy-allergic consumer, allergen advisory labeling is incredibly helpful in helping me manage my food allergy and stay safe.

I am 20 years old, and I have been living with severe food allergies since I was young. I am allergic to all nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and beef.

My daughter is allergic to any and all nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds and poppy seeds.

I would also like to see Sesame and other seeds labeled and any cross-contamination possiblities.

I am severely allergic to all nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds.

I request that you require labeling for sesame. Sesame allergies are growing quickly, much the way peanut allergies have over the past 10 years. Canada and most countries in Europe do label for sesame.

I am allergic to sesame and have a very hard time breathing if I eat it. It is becoming harder for me to find food that is safe for me to eat. Please add sesame to your list of allergens.

Please continue labeling for top food allergans. I believe this should also incluse sesamie seeds.

We had been assured by multiple people that the burger was sesame free. Unfortunately, we found out too late that there was in fact sesame seeds on the bun. My son's throat began to close ...

I can't tell you how many times I've cried myself to sleep. My son's words I hear over and over in my head. "Please mom don't let me die". "Mom, my throat is closing, I can't breath". These words, I've heard so many times and each time it breaks my heart and scares me all at the same time.

"The American people place a huge amount of trust in the FDA. It is critical that we take steps to boost their confidence, particularly when it comes to the safety of drugs and foods," Dr. Margaret Hamburg told the Senate health committee.

For foods, Hamburg said: "Now is the time to shift to a food safety system that puts prevention first."

The U.S. Senate voted on Monday to confirm Dr. Margaret Hamburg to run the Food and Drug Administration

Hamburg has pledged to restore confidence in the FDA after accusations that officials placed politics ahead of science

Hamburg signaled that she sees the FDA as a public-health agency, and not just an organization that helps the food and drug industry market products.

The agency's success should be measured by its impact on promoting health, preventing illness and prolonging life, not the number of facilities inspected or drugs approved, she wrote in a New England Journal of Medicine editorial published Tuesday.

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that four New Jersey congressmen and its own former commissioner unduly influenced the process that led to its decision last year to approve a patch for injured knees, an approval it is now revisiting.

the device, known as Menaflex and manufactured by ReGen Biologics Inc., was unsafe

The agency has never before publicly questioned the process behind one of its approvals, never admitted that a regulatory decision was influenced by politics, and never accused a former commissioner of questionable conduct.

and they haven't corrected the mistake in this yet
http://www.foodallergy.org/downloads/wysk.pdf

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer
Protection Act requires manufacturers to use simple
language (i.e.,“egg” and “milk”) and to list allergens if
they are present in colors, flavors, or spices in
products manufactured on or after January 1, 2006.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations require
that protein-containing ingredients derived from
the top eight allergens (milk, egg, wheat, peanut,
soy, tree nut, fish, and shellfish) be identified by
their common or usual name.

President Obama’s call for open government and transparency is all fine and good, but the FDA has delivered a warning shot to anyone thinking of disclosing information the agency doesn’t want leaked.

FDA silence about its own investigations is discretionary, not required. When the public and President Obama were upset about contaminated peanut butter, the agency fell over itself to talk about its diligent investigations into Peanut Corporation of America. Beyond the limelight, however, small enforcement matters that millions don't care about are routinely hidden

allergens other than the “top 8” (i.e sesame) are not regulated and do not have to be declared on the ingredient label. Such limitations in the law pose frustration and risk for allergic individuals.

In the follow-up survey, they found that non-specific terms such as “natural flavors” and “spices” were found on 65% of products and were frequently not linked to a specific ingredient.

the use of these non- specific terms has a significant impact on the individual with spice allergy (i.e garlic, sesame) who would be forced to continue to call the manufacturer each time spice or flavor is listed without a “source” on the label.

if you are allergic to a food or ingredient that is exempt from FALCPA, be aware that the ingredient you are avoiding may be hidden under terms such as colors, flavors, or spices on food labels.

contact the manufacturer for more information

For patients, navigating the debate can be difficult because doctors, patient advocacy groups and manufacturers often endorse positions that are in their economic self-interest.

I was first ignored, then pressured to change my scientific opinion, and when I refused to do that, I was intimidated and ultimately terminated

FDA lacks modern enforcement tools and adequate resources to keep the nation's food supply safe

be proactive, not reactive

Will FAAN be working to help patients with allergies other than the big 8 as defined by the FDA (milk, wheat, egg, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, and soy.)?

Dr. Hugh A. Sampson of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and colleagues determined the prevalence of peanut, tree nut and sesame allergy in 2008

a nationwide, cross-sectional random-digit telephone survey. A total of 5,300 households (13,534 individuals)

How prevalent is sesame allergy?

0.4% for general population, higher in food allergic patients.

comprehensive studies that include oral food challenges are few in number. Considering allergy to milk, egg, peanut, and seafood in a meta-analysis of 6 international studies using oral food challenges, estimated rates of 1-10.8% were obtained.14 In a meta-analysis including allergy to fruits and vegetables (excluding peanut), only 6 international studies included oral food challenges, and estimates of allergy varied widely from 0.1-4.3% for fruits and tree nuts to 0.1-1.4% for vegetables to under 1% for wheat, soy, and sesame.15

With regard to prevalence, the researchers said they couldn't come up with a clear number because of different methods of assessing food allergies.

could be the result of increased awareness and greater reporting, rather than a true increase in allergies

sesame, 0.10% (95% CI, 0.04%-0.17%)